Machine fob pbepabing and spinning hemp



MOSES DAY,` OF ROXBURY, -MASSACHUSETTS MACHINE FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING HEMP, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 1,580, dated April 30, 1840.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MOSES DAY, of Roxbury, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful improvements in machinery for preparing and spinning hemp and such other fibrous material to which the said improvements are applicable. s s

These improvements, the principles thereof and manner in which I have contemplated their application by whichthey may be distinguished from other inventions of a like character, together with such parts, improvements, or combinations I consider as new and claim to be my invention and discovery I have hereinafter set forth and described, which description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings herein referred to composes my specification.

Heretofore it has been customary to prepare hemp, previous to its being spun, by rocking it or otherwise straightening and separat ing the fibers. These operations require much manual labor and consequently expenditure of capital invested in the manufacture of ropes. Like the generality of inventions the object of that herein specified is the reduction of manual power by the substitution of machinery therefor particularly in the process of preparing the hemp or other fibrous material for spinning.

vMy improvements represented in the figures of Plates 1 and 2, the former of which exhibits an orthographical projection or top View of the same as shown in Figure 1, and also an elevation of one side of the machinery as seen in Fig. 2. Fig. 1 Plate 2 is a longitudinal or central section, while Fig. 2, shows some of the parts in detail for the y purpose of better elucidating the arrangement of the whole in combination.

A, A, A, A, throughout the different views represent the framework, which may be constructed of wood, iron, or other suitable material, and formed in any other mannerto support the operating parts thereto attached. B is a fast and C a loose pulley on a cross shaft D I) Plate 1, Figs. 1, and 2.

The belt F (Figs. 1 and 2 Plates 1, and 2) from the driving power passes over one or the other of these pulleys according to circumstances. Two p ulleys G, H are attached to the shaft D D, near its other end. Around either of these, at pleasure a belt I passes to and around a pulley K or L on a shaft M M, Plate 1, Figs. 1, and 2 and:

Plate 2, Fig. 1. T'he shaft M, M revolves in suitablev bearings E, E, and has a cogged pinion N (see Fig. 1 Plate 1) aixed nearv wheel R Figs. 1, and 2 Plate 1 and Fig. 1,

Plate 2 situated on the end of another shaft S. There are three shafts S T and U upon which the drums V, W, X, are situated and revolved by the motions of these shafts. VAs these drums or hollowcylinders andV machinery to operate the points will be particularly described hereafter I now proceed in the description of the connection of the pulleys belts and geared wheels, which put the drums in motion. The shaft S, has on its other extremity, (see Fig. 1 ,Plate 1) a set of pulleys Y, Y, Y, of different diameters as represented in the drawing. From either of these said pulleys abeltZpasses to andy around its corresponding pulley of another series a, a, a, alixed on the end of another shaft b Z), the said shaft being represented in (Plate 1, Figs. 1 and `2 and Plate 2, Fig. 1) as revolving in Suitable boxes or bearings C. A pinion d, on the shaft Zn Z) (see Platev 1, Figs. 2,) engages with and turns a cogged wheel e on the Vextremity of the shaft T, and' of course causing said shaft T to revolve also.

A set of pulleys f, f, f, (Plate 1, Figs. 1, and 2) is placed on the opposite extremity of the shaft T.' From either of these pulleys, at pleasure, a belt g vpasses to and aroundY a corresponding pulley of another set IN1, It on a shaft z' i see Plate 1, Figs. 1, and 2y and Plate 2, Fig. 1, thus communicating motion to Vthe said shaft. The motion is thence continued to the shaft U by means of a cogged pinion k on the shaft t' engaging with a cogged wheel Z on one extremity of the shaft U. V

A large pulley m (Plate 1 Fig. 1,) is placed on the other extremity of the shaft U. From this pulley a belt a passes to and around a small pulley aflixed on the end of another shaft Fig. 2, Plate 1, thus communicating motion to the said shaft p. The feeding roller or cylinder Q is placed on the similar roller r, whose shaft s s has its jour- Y drums or cylindersV, VV,*X and their mode nals resting and turning.Y in bearings, t, formed in the levers u, u Plate 1, Figs. 1,

and 2. The fulcrum of each of these levers is in the top of a standard 93110. Weights areV to be hung on or near their other ends in order to produce .asufcientpressure toenable the rollers to draw the hemp or other fibrous material from the quantity-`to.be

, spun` and feed the machinery with thesame.

`Having thus described the'` Vmachinery through which motion lis communicated to thedifferent cylinders rollers, -&c., Vof that portion of my invention whose Vofiice is to` prepare thefibrous material or reduce ittO a suitable state to 'be spun into `yarn I nowv proceed to4 explain the construction of the of operation on the hemp or iaX. Each of the said drums it will. be. perceived by inspection of (Plate, 1, Figs. 1, 2, Plate 2` Figs. 1, 2,) consists of `a hollow cylinder W attached to twocircular disks or plates x af,

these said plates being placed von and fixed to a Vcentralshaft-1S T or U.; `Thus when said shaft is putin motion thev hollow` cylindrical drum W is caused to revolve on itsY axis. Each of theA shafts S T U passes through and turns ina hollow shaft similar to that shown .at y, Aa, in Fig. 2 Plate 2.A

These hollow shafts are stationary or liXed 'at one of'each of theirrendsby being secured or otherwise properly connected tothe boxes of the shape .represented by red lines `in At each the disks mim, grooved cams b b-` are afliXed,

i Plate 2 Fig. 1,'and`partly by black in elevation and section in (Fig. `2 Plate 1, and Fig.

2 Plate 2).. The cylindrical ends 0 c of metallic bars el ai are also inserted inthe eccentric grooves `e e", of the cams. bars Z el are also placed and move in slots or rectangular spaces f f 'formed in or cut through the disks or plates a? y Y Each of the bars d has aV series of metallic r points g g g 6to.` aiiiXedfthereto, Vwhich radiate through slots ory long spaces-JL 7L formed in the periphery of the drums as seen in the different drawings. These metallic points or teeth vary in their lengths, those near the center of the drums,` being i longer than those near the sides ofthe same,

Vso

the object of which arrangement will `be more particularly specified hereafter.` VNow from what has been described it will V.readily f be seen that, when the drums V, W, X, are

putin revolution the metallic points g g g` Y must advance and recede alternately, or, more particularly, Vwhile they travel through the circular space j into the eccentric portions j 79, they recede fromV the circumfer-` ence of the cylinder until they enter Ywithin the periphery of the drum, and remain so `while they travel ihn-the portion l?" Zt; thence` Vmovin than the lsurfaces of the feed rollers draws down I (avery little) thefhemp during its passage over its Upper surface toward the' drum l,W whose lower points then advanceV ,I ofthe other eitremities of theY hollow shafts y, e, and directly in front of The i the machinery throughthe eccentricpart` lf i 1 they are advanced until they 1 reachfagain the circular part `of the groove i j. Now suppose the hemp or other fibrous material to be entered between the feed rollers q" 1", and received upon and bythe metallic points of the drum X as represented by the blue arrows in Plate 2 Fig..1`.` The circumference of this drum X of with 'a somewhat greater velocity toreceive as the fpointsfof the drum X recede and leave it..n `The motion of the pe-` riphery y of the second drumv W beingin-` creased above that given tothe circumference of the drum X causes the brous materialto be drawn out asecond time during its passage over-theunder surfaceof the cylinderor drum Thencefrom Wit passes to andover the drum r to the regulator m',

and from said regulator to the spinning or twisting part of the machinery. Y

' The velocity of the periphery of the drum 4 V is also increased abovethat'of W, soas to draw the material down athird time and. as ,it departs from the cylinder or drum V in its passage from thence to the regulator m, the points: of the `cylinder are caused,

' by the eccentricgrooves of the` cams, to recede almost immediately from the hemp and leave it free to `pass through theregulator.`

preparation ofthe fibrous material for the e process'oflspinning. l` will now proceed to describe the improvements in that part of which twists and spins the fibers into yarn. l

` A beveledv wheel a (Plate` Fig. 1) placed on theshaft D communicates motion Vto another sht ft o tlirougha beveled gear p. From thence motion is given to the flier g by means of a belt rf passing from a large pulley s on a shaft o to'and around .apulley t attached to the neck of theflier as'seien in the different drawings. Y

vThe construction of the flier g` and bobbin u,`will be readily understood by inspecting the drawings. My principal improvements in this part of the machinery, consist in the mode of vibrating the spindle and retarding the bobbinv to cause `it to take up the yarn as fast as the same is, spun` or twisted.

The `spindle e has a pulley w `affixed thereon from which a belt wfpasses to and aroundacylinder or drum y (Plate 1 Figs. 1 and 2). Another belt e passes from the other end of the drum to one or theother of the pulleys a2 Z22. A groove c2 is cut in the circumference of the pulley b2 and a fork @Z2 inserted therein, while at its other end it is screwed or otherwise fixed to the framework A, A. The object of the fork is to hold the pulleys a2 b2 in the same situation'during their revolutions. The pulley a2 is a little less in diameter than the pulley b2. A small dogvor. forked piece of metal e2, arranged in proper supports f2 which Vare properly attached to the side ofthe pulley a2, its forked end being inserted between the threads Of a common screw g2 formed on the spindle o. The pulley a2 is a little smaller in diameter than the pulley w, while the diameter of the pulley Z22 is a little larger than that of w. From this it follows that when the belt e is thrown over the pulley a2, the rate of its revolutions is somewhat increased above that of fw, and therefore the effect would be, as this pulley is kept in place or in one position during its revolutions, to cause the small fork e2 to travel in the groove or between the threads of the screw, and by so doing to press the spindle forward until its fork arrives at the termination of vthe screws. Then if the belt z is shifted or thrown upon the pulley b2 a reverse effect will be produced, and the spindle forced back until the fork e2 reaches the opposite termination of the thread of the screw g2. The changing-of the belt e from one pulley a2 to the other b2 is thus produced.

A forked lever h2 (see Plate 1 Figs. 1 and 2 and Plate 2 Fig. 1) turns on a fulcrum or support Z2 (see Plate 2 Fig. 1) attached to the lower side of the upper cross tie of the framework. One end j2 receives or straddles the belt while the opposite end is connected by a clasp or staple 7a2 with a slide Z2 Plate 1 Figs. 1 and 2. This slide moves longitudinally a short distance and is supported in staples or grooves or in any other proper manner.

An arm m2 projects downward from the spindle, with its end resting on the upper surface of the slide Z2. Now when the spindle reaches either extremity a2 or o2 of a long staple n2 02, the arm m2 will press against said staple a2 02, causing the slide Z2 in which it is arranged to move longitudinally a sufficient distance to throw the belt Z from one pulley to the other, as the case may be, and reverse the action of the small fork e2 on the thread of the screw g2. A weight 732 is placed on the top of a rod g2, which rod q2 rests at its foot jin a step formed in the top of the cross beam r2 as denoted by dotted linesin Plate 1, Fig. 2. The rod Q2 is also connected by a proper joint, so as to be easily inclined to a certain y distance on one side or the other of a perpen- A strapof metal 152 passes around this pulley and traverses at u2 on a rod o2. A small screw co2 with a nut m2 serves to clamp or draw together the ends of the strap t2, so as to cause it to bind upon the periphery of the pulley s2 and produce a sufficient friction thereon to cause the retardation of the bottoni, to enable it to take or wind up the yarn as the same is spun or twisted by the flier. It will be` seen that the spindle is dragged around or revolved by the thread whose strength issufiicient to effect the saine.

To enable the cross head y2 of the spindle to traversefreely backward and forward, I place small rollers z2 z2 in each extremity where the ends of the cross head clasp the flier bars. Should these bars be expanded by centrifugal force during the rapid revolutions of the flier, they will meet and rest against the rollers a2 e2, and thus these rollers answer the double purpose of diminishing friction and preventing too great an expansion of the flier bars.

The next and probably the most essential part of my improvements is that portion of them whose oiice is to regulate the size of the yarn, and to prevent also any knots or bunches of the hemp or other material from passing to the drawing rollers c3 b3, and being twisted up into the'yarn by the opera- Y tions of the spinning machinery.

A geared wheel c3 as represented by dotted lines in Plate 1, Fig. 2,) is xed on the end` of the shaft M M outside of the cogged pinion N. The teeth of the said wheel communicate motion to another cogged wheel Z3 on the end of the shaft c3 by means of the intervening cogged wheel f3. Another horizontal shaft g3 is situated directly over and parallel to the shaft e3, these two shafts being geared together by a small gear on each, as seen by a top View at h2. The journals of the upper shaft g3 revolve in suitable bearingsin the levers i3 3 asV seen at 7'3 js. The fulcrums of each of the levers Z3 is at one end 7c3 as seen in the drawings. lVeights are to be hung on the levers in order to produce a suitable degree of pressure on the yarn as it passes between the draw rollers a3 b3, the former of which is placed on the upper shaft g3 and the latter on the lower shaft e2.

rPhe regulator m is shaped with branching or curved sides Z3 Z3 (see Plate 1, Figs. 1

'the bentlevert3 soV asto y,serve las a suHicient and 2 and Plate 2, F ig.v 1).. so as to rece-ive the `fibers as they leave the points andconcentrate them as they passthrough the gage to thel draw rollers. This gage consists of twoV wedge-shape pieces of` metal m3 n3' placed one above the other as represented in section in Plate 2, Fig. '1, They are pressed together by means Y of a -bent spring 03 (shaped very much like the letter U) clasping the end of the regulator. a conical chamber p3 is formed in each of the piecesof metal m3 asas represented in Plate 2, Fig. l. i

The regulator m isattached to the top` of a long rod g3 (Plate l, Figs. 1 and 2, and Plate' 2, Fig. 1), whose Vlower extremity is properly attached to a horizontal shafts? resting in boxes or bearings s3. A bentle-Z vert3 is placed onthe end of `the shaft rf. Its Vupper end is forked and clasps or receives the bent end of another lever a3. TheY lever a3 vibrates laterally on a pin. or bear-` ing at 03, its opposite extremity *w3 `being` forked as represented in the elevation Plate l, Fig. l, and inserted in a groove wiof a `clutch ,1/3, fitted loosely, but secured so as only to be moved laterally on the shaft P P. Asmall pin or dog e3 projecting from the side ofthe pinion'Q and entering into one of a series of holes drilled in the side of theY clutch 1/3 serves to connect the clutch to the c-ogged pinion Q, and thus while-the regulator m remains in the position shown in theV drawings, the pinion Q. is in connection with the shaft P. But when the said regulatorl is drawn forward, the bent lever t3 moving with the shaft r3 presses on thebent end of the forked lever a3, causing the said forked lever to press outward the clutch ,1/3 and Vthus disengage the pinion Q and shaft P, theref by stopping itsaction -on the cogged wheel R, and consequently the action of all that portion of `the Vmachinery whose office is to prepare the fibrous n iaterial.

A weight a* is placed on the other arm of counterpoise to carry back the regulator m to its previous position. Y

From the above it will be perceived that should anyk portion ofthe librous material be uneven or twisted into knots or, bunches,

when such portions pass into the regulator y between the pieces of metal ma n3, they will adhere therein, sothat the drawingrollers acting on the material will draw the: regulator forward and thus stop `the' action of the whole'of the preparativepart of the machinery until the said knots 0r bunches are reduced and pass through the regulator,-

which being accomplished'the said regulator willV return back to its former position.

Again it will be observed that this mode of regulating or preventing the accumulation of bunches, differs from all others heretofore invented, inasmuch as the knot or One-half vof regulator. Y

The advantages resulting `from ,theV above bunch in fall or most of them is` sufered to passbetween the drawingV rollers, which serve-only to `pinchor retain it until the force of retention, and draws "the knot (in general but partially reduced) from between the draw rollersV twisting it into yarn;

twisting power of the, flier i overcomes the i Again this detention, of the knotyby the draW-rollerscauses f au much greater number of revolutions ofthe flier, on the yarn intervening between it and the draw rollers, than fron other `portions thereof `the tendency is therefore :'to reduce the` diameter of vthe yarn renderingn it unevenand irregular in size; From the aboveitwould appear. evident, that suchymachines are an kinjury ratherthan a benetto the `process of rope making, asthe grandqdesideratum is to so twist the fibers together, that when laid into a` rope tension.` 1 l q l; i

\ In my mode. ofregulating'by'fthe above describedmachinery, these objections are all obviated.-`The bunchlorknob is properly reduced lin the regulator by the draw rollers .each shall `have-an` equal strain or continually operating and 'drawing `forth the material in'proportion tothe quantity required by the 1 spinning` apparatus. The particular object of thebent spring c3 is (to allow any hard substance in passing through the `gage `or conical chamber and not susceptible of-reduction) to separate the i piecesv 'm2` n3 `and thus be drawn out of the described arrangement of jmachinery, `both in the saving oflabor, and the quality of the manufacture, will be readily apparent Vafter learningthe` principles and mode of o eration as above set forth: vInthepiirst p ace itwill be observed :that should the hemp or brousmaterialtojbe spuninthis machine,` be Vpassed through the usual pre-A parative course of heckling, &c., the quality of the rope formed of the` yarns will be much superior to that `of the major part now manufactured, whileaveryfine quality of manufactured would be produced, ifa part of said heckling `process were dispensed wit-h, leaving the remaining partjto the elfectualopcration 'of the several drums and the machinery,` connected with the same. Again the roving produced by the combined operation of thedrumsand regulator `forms -a much betteryarn or thread than has heretofore been made, inasmuch as the quantity of hemp composingithe same is controlled by the hand of the operator alone, which it will be admitted islbut an imperfect regulator.` y, y

l The improvement in the i. mode of vibrating the.` spindle and bobbinis too palpable torequirefurther\,co1nment, and the great saving ofwmanual llabor will be apparent,

.when it is statedwthat elle Operative CM1 super-intend ten or twelve machines, it being only necessary to supply the draw-rollers with the wide sliver or lap of hemp (so termed) leaving the machinery to complete the operation.

Having completed the description of the principles and mode of operation of my machinery I shall now proceed to specifically point out those parts I claim as my invention and hold to be original and new. They are as follows: y

1. I claim the combination of the revolving drums and several rows of teeth with the machinery within said drums for operating the several series of teeth or metallic points, the whole of the above specied machinery being constructed and operating substantially in the manner and on the principles herein above set forth.

2. I claim, the regulator m constructed substantially as herein before described, and also the combination of the same with the several different series of teeth formed as described (those near the side of the drums being shorter than those near the center of the same) which arrangement in conjunction with the peculiar shape of the regulator forms the roving from which the thread or yarn is to be made.

3. I claim, stopping the motion of the preparative part of the machinery by means of the regulator m in combination with the rod Q3, shaft r3, the bent lever t3, on the said shaft, bent lever a3 and clutch g3 on the shaft P P as herein described.

4f. I claim, the employment vof a single threaded screw g2 on the spindle, and its combination with the fork e2 (attached to the side of the series of pulleys a2 62)-belt e pulley fw and drum y, the wholeconstructed and operating substantially as above described, for the purpose of imparting a reciprocating rectilinear motion to the spindle and bobbin.

In testimony that the above is a true description of my said invention and improvement I have hereto set my hand this fourth day of April, in the year eighteen hundred and forty,

MOSES DAY.

Witnesses:

E. LINCOLN, Jr., G. D. DANA. 

